Sir Georg Solti and Laurence Kaptain, Nov. 1993
During a Decca recording session

Select 1995-2004 Appearences

Metropolitan Opera Chamber Players (New York City)

New York Philharmonic

Boston Symphony

EOS (New York City)

Chicago Symphony (plus CD recording for DGG)

Montreal Symphony (video for NHK-TV, Japan)

Manhattan Chamber Orchestra (New York)

Little Orchestra Society (New York)

Sospeso (New York City)

Rutgers Summerfest

Aspen Music Festival Chamber Orchestra

Tanglewood Music Center Contemporary Music Festival

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (recording for DGG)

New World Symphony

Minnesota Orchestra

Kansas City Symphony

Syracuse Symphony

Texas Tech University Orchestra

St. Olaf College Orchestra

Quad Cities Symphony

Riverside Symphony (New York)

Ground Swell (Winnipeg)

Evansville Philharmonic

Rhode Island Philharmonic

Milwaukee Symphony

 

Laurence Kaptain is widely heard as a percussionist, marimba soloist, and cimbalom (the Hungarian dulcimer) artist. He studied cimbalom in Budapest, Hungary-the principal city of the cimbalom. In 1990-96 alone, he was featured with the Montreal Symphony in Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, the San Antonio, Boston, Rochester, and St. Louis Symphonies, the Philadelphia, Chautauqua Festival, and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Summit Brass, Apsen Chamber Orchestra, Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival, and the Chicago Symph ony Orchestra. His 1990 performances with Chicago, Neeme Jarvi conducting, of the Hary Janos Suite were recorded and released on the London-based Chandos label, and in November of 1993 he recorded the Kodaly work again with the Chicago Symphony, Sir George Solti conducting, for special London/Decca release. He als also recorded the Kodaly with Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony for a forthcoming release. Most recently, he recorded Renard and Ragtime (two works which feature the cimbalom) by Igor Stravinsky with conductor Hugh Wolff and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, released on the Teldec label in April of 1996. He has also recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and is featured on a new compact disc of ethnic Mexican marimba music on the HWP label.

A former Fulbright Scholar to Mexico, Kaptain is author of the book, The Wood That Sings: The Marimba in Chiapas, Mexico. He received the doctor of musical arts degree in percussion performance from the University of Michigan, and has served on the faculty of that institution, as well as the Oberlin Conser vatory, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Drake University. He presently is Professor of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.

Recordings
Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Bart—k. With Gil Shaham, violin, and Pierre Boulez, conductor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Deutsche Grammophon #459639 / released March 9, 1999.

Renard, Ragtime (Stravinsky), St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, musical director. Recorded in February, 1994, Teldec (released in April, 1996).

Suite from Hary Janos (Kodaly), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti, conductor (solo cimbalom). Recorded November, 1993. U.S. release (11/94 ) Mephisto Magic (London/Decca 443 444-2), European release (10/94): The Hunga rian Connection (Decca 443 444-2).

Suite from Hary Janos (Kodaly), St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, music director, (solo cimbalom). Recorded February, 1993, RCA (for future release).

Suite from Hary Janos (Kodaly), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor (solo cimbalom). Recorded February, 1990 (released Spring, 1991). Chandos (CHAN 8877).

The cimbalom that Mr. Kaptain performs on was manufactured over 70 years ago by the Bohak Lajos firm of Budapest, Hungary. It was owned for many years by the legendary cimbalom artist John Udvary. Kaptain has studied cimbalom in Budapest with Ida Tarjani Toth and Bechki Geza.